Solid Electrolyte Membrane Coating to Inhibit Lithium Dendrites
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium dendrite growth in solid electrolyte batteries leads to short-circuits, compromising safety and reliability, particularly when using lithium metal as a negative electrode active material.
Innovation Solution
A solid electrolyte membrane with a porous support member coated with a lithium dendrite growth-inhibiting material, such as metal salts like Au or Pt, is integrated into the battery structure to prevent dendrite growth, enhancing durability and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a solid electrolyte membrane is used to ensure safety and prevent leakage, then reliability is improved, but lithium dendrite growth causes short-circuits compromising safety
Solution Approach 1:
A porous support member is introduced as an intermediary structure between the electrodes and solid electrolyte membrane. This support member provides mechanical reinforcement to prevent dendrite penetration while maintaining ion conductivity pathways, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of safety and dendrite resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The battery structure is designed as a composite system combining solid electrolyte membrane with porous support member. This composite structure leverages the chemical stability and ion conductivity of the solid electrolyte while utilizing the mechanical strength of the porous support to inhibit dendrite growth, resolving the contradiction between reliability and dendrite resistance
2Ease of manufacture
If a porous structure is used to integrate particle-type ion conductive inorganic materials, then ease of manufacture is improved, but pores provide spaces for lithium dendrite growth causing short-circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The porous support member is strategically positioned and designed with specific pore size distribution to achieve different local functions: larger pores facilitate manufacturing and material integration, while the overall structured porosity controls dendrite growth pathways. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between ease of manufacture and dendrite prevention
3Productivity
If lithium metal is used as negative electrode to improve energy density, then productivity is improved, but lithium dendrite grows from negative electrode surface causing short-circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The porous support member is pre-installed in the battery structure before electrode assembly to create a physical barrier and guide dendrite growth pathways in advance. This preliminary action prevents dendrite-related short-circuits while allowing lithium metal to be used for high energy density, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and safety
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively inhibits lithium dendrite growth, improving battery life characteristics and preventing short-circuits, thereby enhancing the safety and reliability of lithium metal batteries.
Implementation Method 1
a porous sheet which is a porous material including a plurality of pores, is embedded in the solid electrolyte membrane
Implementation Method 2
the porous sheet is at least partially surface-coated with the lithium dendrite growth-inhibiting material
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a solid electrolyte membrane including a support member, such as a porous sheet, embedded in an electrolyte membrane, wherein the support member is coated with an inhibiting material for inhibiting growth of lithium dendrite. Thus, the solid electrolyte membrane has excellent physical strength, such as puncture strength, and improved durability. In addition, the solid electrolyte membrane has an effect of inhibiting lithium dendrite growth. Thus, when the solid electrolyte membrane is applied to a lithium metal battery including lithium metal as a negative electrode material, there is provided an effect of improving the life characteristics of the battery.